What Cedar Fair-Six Flags $8 billion merger means for California theme parks

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Knott’s Berry Farm owner Cedar Fair and Magic Mountain owner Six Flags agree to an $8 billion merger of equals that combines the two companies into a North American amusement park juggernaut.

People ride the new Wonder Woman Flight of Courage roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia on July 14, 2022. Magic Mountain drew only 85% of its pre-pandemic attendance in 2022 and actually saw attendance decline from 2021 levels. Longtime theme park fans shaking at the notion of a Cedar Fair-Six Flags merger can take some solace that Cedar Fair will be handling operations even if the Six Flags name is about to be slapped on every park in the expanded theme park chain.

The good news for Knott’s and Magic Mountain? The year-round parks in Buena Park and Valencia are expected to reduce the seasonal impact that contributes to earnings volatility, according to the Cedar Fair-Six Flags announcement. “In the L.A. market, ‘Six Flags’ means Magic Mountain,” according to Theme Park Insider. “Slapping the Six Flags brand on Knott’s Berry Farm only would cause confusion.”

There are plenty of differences between the two parks. Knott’s has long positioned itself as one of America’s oldest theme parks with themed lands akin to Disneyland. Magic Mountain is a “steel park” that brags about having more roller coasters than any other amusement park in the world. The DC Comics line-up of superheroes could allow Knott’s and Cedar Fair to step up and compete on a themed attraction level with the Marvel superhero rides at Disneyland and Universal Studios Orlando.

 

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